Politics and Government

News about Politics and Government, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Dec. 5, 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio administration says it will no longer challenge disclosure of new emails between mayor and handful of unpaid outside advisers designated as city agents; administration says change will apply only to future emails and not past communications. MORE

Dec. 1, 2016

New York Gov Andrew M Cuomo responds to request by members of state's legislature seeking to convene special session in December to vote on pay raise by asserting they will also have to consider wider array of policy issues; move shocks Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who characterizes Cuomo's suggestion as 'inappropriate.' MORE

Nov. 20, 2016

Documents filed with New York City comptroller by office of Mayor Bill de Blasio show administration has $10 million contract with law firm Debevoise & Plimpton for outside council in ongoing federal investigation of mayor's campaign financing and political nonprofit Campaign for One New York. MORE

Oct. 27, 2016

The Upshot; scholars and researchers have extensively documented how women's voices are missing or discounted in discussions about public affairs and issues, which has led many to be concerned about whether democratic institutions truly reflect will of all people; researchers have found number of ways to increase impact of women's voices and to encourage them to speak out more. MORE

Oct. 23, 2016

Republican candidates in New York State elections cautiously navigate course between supporting their party's presidential nominee Donald J Trump and distancing themselves from his polarizing behavior; unique election cycle upsets analysts' traditional expectations about how different regions will vote. MORE

Oct. 12, 2016

Chinese Communist Party finds ample material in 2016 American election season to support its long-held position that one-party rule is superior form of government; many citizens, particularly middle class people in their 20s and 30s, still aspire to American system democracy. MORE

Oct. 7, 2016

News Analysis; fallout from so-called Brexit vote across European Union seems to support notion that emergence of female leaders may not be evidence of shattering of glass ceiling so much as much as reality of 'glass cliff'; theory holds women can be placed in positions of power when circumstances are so dire that likelihood of success is low; outcome then reinforces stereotyped views that women perform poorly in leadership roles. MORE

Aug. 2, 2016

David Brooks Op-Ed column recounts how Frederick Douglass used then-new medium of photography to effect social change and examines question of whether artists should be involved in politics; suggests artists needlessly limit themselves by engaging in partisanship or legislation, as they have much more powerful ability to change way people perceive world. MORE

Jul. 11, 2016

Editorial argues New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's use of nonprofit Campaign for One New York to advocate for his policies is dubious, despite Campaign Finance Board ruling that it did not break law; calls for mayor to adopt board's recommendation that such nonprofits should be subject to campaign-finance laws. MORE

Jul. 7, 2016

Campaign for One New York, nonprofit tied to Mayor Bill de Blasio, argues in court that it should not have to comply with subpoena from Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which is trying to determine if group broke state regulations by not registering as lobbyist; claims subpoena overreaches panel’s jurisdiction and is politically motivated. MORE

Jul. 7, 2016

New York City Campaign Finance Board denounces behavior of Mayor Bill de Blasio and nonprofit Campaign for One New York while clearing both of fund-raising violations; says group's activities expose limitations of current campaign finance laws and calls on City Council to tighten limits on contributions to nonprofits tied to specific politicians. MORE

Jul. 5, 2016

David Brooks Op-Ed column argues British Conservative Party faces choice of whether to be led by out-of-touch insider or incompetent outsider; sees dilemma reflected in other elections around world. MORE

Jun. 20, 2016

Deputy Chief Michael J Harrington, Deputy Inspector James M Grant and Sgt David Villanueva of New York City Police Dept are arrested on federal corruption charges; Brooklyn businessman Jeremiah Reichberg is also arrested; charges stem from continuing investigations into campaign fund-raising by Mayor Bill de Blasio. MORE

Jun. 17, 2016

Federal prosecutors file civil complaint against J Felix Strevel, former official in Gov George E Pataki's administration, and his daughter, Nicole Strevell-Childrose; filing asserts money used by Strevel to pay for daughter's wedding and to settle tax debt on property she owned was restitution he owed state in connection with 2007 fraud conviction. MORE

Jun. 17, 2016

New York State lawmakers, as 2016 session draws to close, rush to put together legislative package that includes array of items, from ethics reform to supportive housing for homeless. MORE

Jun. 14, 2016

Gov Andrew M Cuomo has increasingly distanced himself in comments from Joseph Percoco, former aid and close confidant who has come under federal investigation; Cuomo cut ties with Percoco just days after federal agents raided Percoco's home in April, looking for evidence that he and his wife had improperly received thousands of dollars from companies that had done business with New York State. MORE

Jun. 9, 2016

Cooperating Witness 1 listed in criminal complaint against Norman Seabrook, union leader for city's corrections officers, is suspected to be Jona Rechnitz, central to half dozen federal corruption investigations focused on Mayor Bill de Blasio's fund-raising activities; office of United States attorney strongly suggests that Rechnitz could be important witness in at least one fund-raising case. MORE

Jun. 4, 2016

The Stone column by Prof Justin E H Smith examines philosophical roots of view of history that serves as basis for statement like 'Donald Trump is not Hitler'; rejects idea history is, or might someday be, sort of science in which we subsume particular events under general laws, but acknowledges history can yield valuable lessons when similarities of individuals and external circumstances are understood and used as tools when choosing between undesirable options. MORE

Jun. 3, 2016

Deputy Chief John Sprague of New York Police Dept is placed on modified duty after indicating he will refuse to appear before federal grand jury in connection with broad federal investigation into corruption in New York City; inquiry is focusing on two businessmen tied to Mayor Bill de Blasio who may have attempted to cultivate contacts with police officials. MORE

Jun. 1, 2016

Investigation by New York Inspector Gen Catherine Leahy reveals State Board of Elections leaked confidential report about potential campaign-finance violations by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to reporter at The Daily News; disclosure adds weight to de Blasio's claims that Gov Andrew Guomo has been working against him. MORE

May. 15, 2016

Ginia Bellafante Big City column reflects on Anthony D Weiner, former Congressman of New York whose penchant for sexting derailed his political career; Wiener's rise and fall is chronicled in Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg documentary Wiener, shown at Sundance Film Festival and slated for general release soon. MORE

May. 13, 2016

Editorial criticizes Republican lawmakers in New York State for refusing to fully renew 2002 law granting New York City mayor control over school system; contends law has greatly improved system and charges Republicans with endangering school children in order to carry out vendetta against Mayor Bill de Blasio. MORE

May. 11, 2016

New York Gov Andrew Cuomo attempts to distance himself from Todd R Howe, longtime associated tied to allegations of fraud and improper lobbying, calling Howe casual acquaintance and saying he had little knowledge of Howe's affairs MORE

May. 7, 2016

Todd R Howe, former aide to New York Gov Andrew M Cuomo and to his father Mario Cuomo, catches eye of federal investigators looking into administration's economic development projects; allegations against prominent lobbyist are not clear, but court documents and public records show history of chaotic financial dealings that include bankruptcy, tax liens, and other judgments against him. MORE

May. 7, 2016

Nonprofit political group Campaign for One New York says it will not comply with subpoena issued by New York State's Joint Commission on Public Ethics, calling its inquiry 'blatantly political exercise'; panel is investigating charges that group, tied to Mayor Bill de Blasio, acted like lobbying firm, even though it had not registered as one with New York State. MORE

May. 6, 2016

New York State Senate Majority Leader John J Flanagan, Long Island Republican, issues harshly critical statement about New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's handling of schools during hearing on whether Legislature will renew mayor's control of city's schools; statement augurs ill for de Blasio's prospects of regaining control. MORE

Apr. 30, 2016

Editorial holds controversy over whether New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio broke law by raising campaign money to help Democrats retake State Senate points to need for stronger campaign finance laws; notes development throws de Blasio's position as anti-corruption crusader into question. MORE

Apr. 16, 2016

Increased scrutiny of Mayor Bill de Blasio's governing style complicates his reelection plans for 2017; FBI is looking into de Blasio's own fundraising activities and into actions of New York Police Dept officials under his watch, and city comptroller’s office has opened inquiry into city-approved change to deed that allowed nursing home on Lower East Side to be converted into luxury apartments. MORE

Mar. 16, 2016

New York Assembly passes ethics bill allowing state legislators to earn $69,600 in outside income in addition to base salary of $79,500, drawing outcry from watchdog groups; lawmakers hold figure ensures majority of legislators' incomes derive from their primary jobs. MORE

Mar. 12, 2016

New York State Assembly puts forward ethics proposal that would limit outside income for state lawmakers to 15 percent of their annual salary, or $11,925; rate is significantly lower than that proposed by Gov Andrew M Cuomo. MORE

Mar. 10, 2016

Steven Rattner Op-Ed article argues that while most recent recessions were largely fault of private sector, current global economic slowdown is partly due to scant and ineffective action by governments, which risks bringing about new recession. MORE

Feb. 17, 2016

Justice Dept is continuing with its efforts under Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, which began in 2010, to recover assets stolen by foreign government officials from their citizens; program has been hampered by challenges of bringing cases against kleptocrats, who can afford good lawyers that can hold up process, and of seizing their assets; federal government has increased restrictions to halt flow of illicit money into United States. MORE

Feb. 15, 2016

New York State Legislature, one month into its 2016 session, has, despite focus on corruption that dethroned both Sheldon Silver and Dean G Skelos, returned to entrenched habits of slow legislative action and leisurely breaks. MORE

Feb. 9, 2016

Preet Bharara, United States attorney for Southern District of New York, who is widely respected for his anticorruption efforts, receives hero's welcome during his first-ever visit to Albany; Bharara seizes opportunity, at conference of New York State mayors, to offer more criticisms of political complacency. MORE

Feb. 6, 2016

New York City Council approves raise of almost one third for its members, first such increase since 2006; brings total base Council salary to $148,500, and establishes limits on outside income; Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito says one goal of reforms is to increase transparency. MORE

Feb. 4, 2016

New York City Council holds its first and only public hearing on package of bills that will raise council members' pay significantly, while also enacting significant good government reforms; bills will also raise pay of other city officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio. MORE

Jan. 30, 2016

New York City Councilman Ritchie Torres of Bronx introduces bill that would collect and make public demographic data on city's 59 community boards; Torres is among growing number of people who are concerned about fact that boards, many of which are largely white, do not reflect ethnic composition of communities they represent. MORE

Jan. 23, 2016

New York City Councilman James Vacca of the Bronx comes out as gay man in Twitter post, garnering outpouring of online support from fellow politicians. MORE

Jan. 20, 2016

Ethics panels of New York State Assembly and Senate meet rarely and have seldom taken action in recent memory, despite repeated calls for ethics reform in Albany; advocates of reform point to paralysis of ethics panels as yet more evidence of willful ignorance among state politicians that allows culture of corruption to flourish. MORE

Jan. 12, 2016

Alliance between Rep Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn and New York City Comptroller Scott M Stringer, who have worked together on issues plaguing city and on each others' political campaigns, presents threat to Mayor Bill de Blasio's 2017 reelection bid; rumors have swirled around potential candidacy of Jeffries or Stringer, both of whom have been critical toward de Blasio. MORE

Dec. 19, 2015

Glenwood Management owner Leonard Litwin played key role in corruption cases against former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean G Skelos and his son Adam, yet never appeared in courtroom; outcome is seen as proof that millions of dollars in political donations can yield rich rewards; testimony, documents, emails and other evidence shows that Glenwood spent millions to ensure that it would continue to benefit from tax breaks, government financing and favorable rent laws. MORE

Dec. 15, 2015

Study published in journal BMJ finds that elected heads of government live 2.7 fewer years and are at 23 percent greater risk of premature death than candidates they defeated. MORE

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